Game device program, game device control, method and program distribution device

ABSTRACT

Each of game data storage parts ( 40 ), in which, while a replication of game data is created, and an item can be used on the basis of different game data, it is possible to prevent the item from increasing by the replication, stores original item data relating to an original item and replica item data relating to a replica item. Besides, a replication part ( 54 ) stores game data into a replication target on the basis of game data stored in a replication source so that a sum of the number of original items relating to the original item data stored in the game data storage part ( 40 ) of the replication source and the number of replica items relating to the replica item data stored in the game data storage part ( 40 ) becomes the number of replica items relating to the replica item data stored in the game data storage part ( 40 ) of the replication target. At this time, link data to correlate the replication target with the replication source is also stored.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a game apparatus, a program, a controlmethod of a game apparatus, and a program delivery apparatus, andparticularly to a game in which item data is stored as part of game data(save data) and a copy of the game data can be created as the needarises.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, for example, in a role playing game or the like, thereis known one in which a play situation is stored as save data, and thegame can be resumed later on the basis of the save data. Besides, amongsuch games, there is also one in which a copy of save data can becreated.

On the other hand, among recent games, there is one in which two gamemachines are communication connected by using a cable or many gamemachines are communication connected through a communication networksuch as the Internet, and an item acquired in a game space can beassigned to another player or can be exchanged with another player.However, in such a game, as described above, when a copy of save datacan be created, the player can assign the item to another player or canexchange it with another player without spending his/her own item. Thatis, a play situation holding a specified item is stored as save data(original), a copy of the save data is created, and when the assignmentor the like of the item is performed on the basis of one of the copy andthe original, the game can be resumed in a play situation, by using theother save data, where the item is not spent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, andprovides a game apparatus, a program, a control method of a gameapparatus, and a program delivery apparatus in which while a replication(copy) of game data is created and an item can be used on the basis ofdifferent game data, it is possible to prevent the item from increasingby the replication.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above problem, a game apparatus of the inventionincludes plural game data storage means, replication sourcedetermination means for determining replication source game data storagemeans among the plural game data storage means, replication targetdetermination means for determining replication target game data storagemeans among the plural game data storage means, and replication meansfor storing game data into the replication target game data storagemeans on the basis of game data stored in the replication source gamedata storage means, and is characterized in that the game apparatusincludes link data storage means for storing link data to correlate twogame data storage means with each other, each of the plural game datastorage means stores original item data relating to an original item andreplica item data relating to a replica item, and the replication meansstores the game data into the replication target game data storage meanson the basis of the game data stored in the replication source game datastorage means so that a sum of the number of original items relating tothe original item data stored in the replication source game datastorage means and the number of replica items relating to the replicaitem data stored in the replication source game data storage meansbecomes the number of replica items relating to the replica item datastored in the replication target game data storage means, and stores thelink data to correlate the replication target game data storage meanswith the replication source game data storage means into the link datastorage means.

Also, a program of the invention is a program to cause a computer tofunction as plural game data storage means, replication sourcedetermination means for determining replication source game data storagemeans among the plural game data storage means, replication targetdetermination means for determining replication target game data storagemeans among the plural game data storage means, replication means forstoring game data into the replication target game data storage means onthe basis of game data stored in the replication source game datastorage means, and link data storage means for storing link data tocorrelate two game data storage means with each other, and ischaracterized in that each of the plural game data storage means storesoriginal item data relating to an original item and replica item datarelating to a replica item, and the replication means stores the gamedata into the replication target game data storage means on the basis ofthe game data stored in the replication source game data storage meansso that a sum of the number of original items relating to the originalitem data stored in the replication source game data storage means andthe number of replica items relating to the replica item data stored inthe replication source game data storage means becomes the number ofreplica items relating to the replica item data stored in thereplication target game data storage means, and stores the link data tocorrelate the replication target game data storage means with thereplication source game data storage means into the link data storagemeans.

In the invention, the original item data relating to the original itemand the replica item data relating to the replica item are stored ineach of the game data storage means. The original item data indicatesthe number of original items which are owned by, for example, a playercharacter and are originals (original copies) of a certain kind of item.The replica item data also indicates the number of replica items whichare owned by, for example, a player character and are replicas(replications) of the same items. In the invention, in the case wherethe game data is stored into the replication target game data storagemeans on the basis of the game data stored in the replication sourcegame data storage means, the sum of the number of the original items inthe replication source and the number of the replica items is made thenumber of the replica items in the replication target. Further, the linkdata to correlate the replication target game data storage means withthe replication source game data storage means is stored in the linkdata storage means.

According to the invention, the original item data and the replica itemdata are distinguished from each other and are stored in the game datastorage means. Besides, the replication target game data storage meansand the replication source game data storage means are correlated witheach other by the link data stored in the link data storage means. Thus,in the case where a certain item is disposed of (for example, assigned,exchanged, deleted, discarded, etc.), an item relating to that, that is,a replication target or a replication source, can also be disposed of.In this way, while the replication of the game data is created and theitem can be used on the basis of different game data, it is possible toprevent the item from increasing as a result of the replication.

Besides, according to an aspect of the invention, there is furtherincluded means for, in a case where disposal of an original itemrelating to the original item data stored in one of the plural game datastorage means is instructed, updating the original item data stored inthe game data storage means whose disposal is instructed so that theoriginal item is decreased, and updating the replica item data stored inanother game data storage means relating to a replica item as a director indirect replica of the original item so that the replica item isdecreased. By doing so, in the case where the disposal of a certainoriginal item is instructed, its direct or indirect replica can also bedisposed of.

Besides, according to an aspect of the invention, there is furtherincluded means for, in a case where disposal of a replica item relatingto the replica item data stored in one of the plural game data storagemeans is instructed, updating the original item data stored in one ofthe other game data storage means as a direct or indirect replicationsource of the game data storage means whose disposal is instructed sothat the original item is decreased, and updating the replica item datastored in the other game data storage means relating to a replica itemas a direct or indirect replica of the decreased original item so thatthe replica item is decreased. By doing so, in the case where thedisposal of a certain replica item is instructed, the original itemdirectly or indirectly relating to that and its direct or indirectreplica can also be disposed of.

Also, according to an aspect of the invention, there is further includedmeans for, in a case where deletion of game data storage means having noreplication source is instructed, updating the original item data andthe replica item data stored in one of game data storage means as adirect or indirect replication target of the game data storage meanswhose deletion is instructed so that replica items, of a number which isequal to the number of original items relating to the original item datastored in the game data storage means whose deletion is instructed, arechanged to original items, changing link data, which is stored in thelink data storage means and correlates the game data storage means whosedeletion is instructed with the game data storage means as thereplication target of the game data storage means, to link data tocorrelate the game data storage means as the replication target of thegame data storage means the deletion of which is instructed with saidone of the game data storage means, and deleting the game data storagemeans the deletion of which is instructed.

In this aspect, in the case where the deletion of the game data storagemeans having no replication source is instructed, the same number ofreplica items relating to one of the game data storage means as thedirect or indirect replication target are changed to the original itemsas original items relating to the game data storage means of thedeletion object. Besides, the link data to correlate the game datastorage means whose deletion is instructed with the game data storagemeans as the replication target of the game data storage means ischanged to the link data to correlate the game data storage means as thereplication target of the game data storage means whose deletion isinstructed with the one game data storage means. By doing so, in thecase where the game data storage means having no replication source,that is, the game data storage means storing the original game data isdeleted, one of the replication targets of the game data is promoted tothe original and can be made to have its function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a state where item exchange is performed usinga portable game machine of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a hardware configuration of the portable gamemachine.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a function realized in theportable game machine by executing a game program of an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing storage contents of a storage part.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a replication processing of game data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing item disposal processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing game data deletion processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the game data deletion processing.

FIG. 9 is a view showing the overall structure of a game programdelivery system according to another embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a state in which item exchange is performedusing a game apparatus of an embodiment of the invention. The gameapparatus of the embodiment is realized in such a manner that a portablegame machine 10 executes a program stored in a ROM cartridge 12. Usingthe program, in each of the portable game machines 10, a player (or agame character operated by a player) can acquire various items in a gamespace, and can transmit them to the other portable game machine 10 bydata communication. Incidentally, data communication between theportable game machines 10 may be wired or wireless. Besides, in theportable game machine 10, game data expressing a play situation can bestored in the ROM cartridge 12. Further, in the portable game machine10, a replication of the game data (save data) can be created in anotherarea of the ROM cartridge 12.

At this time, the replication is not completely identical to thereplication source. That is, for example, in the case where game data ofa replication source includes such data (original item data) that aplayer character owns N originals of an A item, game data of areplication target includes such data (replica item data) that theplayer character owns N replicas of the A item. Further, in the casewhere the replication of the game data is executed, link data tocorrelate the replication target with the replication source is storedinto the ROM cartridge 12.

Besides, in the portable game machine 10, in the case where the disposalof a certain original item (assignment to another player, exchange foran item owned by another player, consumption, discard, etc.) isinstructed in a game executed on the basis of certain game data storedin the ROM cartridge 12, replica item data included in game data as adirect or indirect replication target of the game data is updated sothat the replica item is decreased. Besides, in the case where thedisposal of a certain replica item is instructed, the original item dataincluded in one of game data as a direct or indirect replication sourceof the game data is updated so that the original item is decreased, andreplica item data included in game data as a direct or indirectreplication target of the game data is updated so that the replica itemis decreased.

Besides, in the portable game machine 10, in the case where the deletionof certain game data stored in the ROM cartridge 12 is instructed byoperation means, such as a cross key or a button, provided in theportable game machine 10, when the game data is original game data, thatis, game data having no replication source, one of game data asreplication targets of the game data is promoted to original game data.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a hardware configuration of the portable gamemachine 10. As shown in the drawing, the portable game machine 10 isconstituted by a CPU 14, a RAM 16, a ROM 18, input/output interfaces 20and 28, an image synthesis part 24, a sound synthesis part 30, an inputdevice 22, a display 26, a ROM cartridge 12, and a speaker 32. Here, theCPU 14, the RAM 16, the ROM 18, the input/output interfaces 20 and 28,the image synthesis part 24, and the sound synthesis part 30 areconnected to a bus for transmitting addresses and data. Besides, theinput device 22 comprising of a cross key and a press button disposed onthe surface of the portable game machine 10 is connected to theinput/output interface 20, and the ROM cartridge 12 is detachablyconnected to the input/output interface 28. Incidentally, the ROMcartridge 12 includes a ROM for storing a game program and an EEPROM forstoring game data.

Besides, the ROM 18 stores various basic programs and data for basicprocessing independent of respective games. The CPU 14 is well-knowndata processing means, executes the basic programs stored in the ROM 18and the game program stored in the ROM cartridge 12, and controls therespective parts of the portable game machine 10. The RAM 16 is used forthe work of the CPU 14.

The image synthesis part 24 is comprising of, for example, a well-knownimage processing processor, and outputs display data to the display 26in under control of the CPU 14. The display 26 is comprising of, forexample, a liquid crystal display panel, and displays a game screen onthe basis of the display data supplied from the image synthesis part 24.The display 26 is mounted on the surface of the portable game machine10.

Besides, the sound synthesis part 30 is comprising of, for example, awell-known sound processor, and supplies sound signals relating tovarious game music and various effective sounds to the speaker 32 inunder control of the CPU 14. The speaker 32 is incorporated into thechassis of the portable game machine 10, and outputs the various gamemusic and the various effective sounds.

Next, FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the portable game machine10. The portable game machine 10 executes the game program stored in theROM cartridge 12 so that respective functional blocks shown in thedrawing are realized. Incidentally, in the drawing, functions relatingto the invention are mainly shown.

As shown in the drawing, the functions realized by the portable gamemachine 10 include a storage part 41, a replication source determinationpart 50, a replication target determination part 52, a replication part54, an update part 56, and a deletion part 58. Plural game data storageparts 40 are included in the storage part 41.

The replication source determination part 50 determines a replicationsource among the game data storage parts 40 in accordance with, forexample, the operation contents of the input device 22. Besides, thereplication target determination part 52 determines a replication targetamong the game data storage parts 40 in accordance with, for example,the operation contents of the input device 22. Further, the replicationpart 54 stores game data into the game data storage part 40 of thereplication target on the basis of game data stored in the game datastorage part 40 of the replication source.

The game data storage part 40 stores play data expressing a playsituation at a certain point in time, and particularly stores, as shownin FIG. 4, the number of originals of each item and the number ofreplicas in a part. Besides, the game data storage part 40 includes areplication source column 42 and a replication target column 44. Here,data to specify the game data storage part 40 as the replication sourceof the game data stored in the game data storage part 40 is stored inthe replication source column 42. Besides, data to specify the game datastorage part 40 as the replication target of the game data stored in thegame data storage part 40 is stored in the replication target column 44.Here, an identification number given to each of the game data storageparts 40 is used as the data to specify the game data storage part 40.Besides, in the case where the replication target or the replicationsource does not exist, “0” is stored in the column.

Next, when the game data is stored into the game data storage part 40 ofthe replication target on the basis of the game data stored in the gamedata storage part 40 of the replication source, the replication part 54adds the number of original items and the number of replica itemsrelating to the replication source, and causes the sum to become thenumber of replica items relating to the replication target. Also, atthis time, in order to correlate the game data storage part 40 of thereplication target with the game data storage part 40 of the replicationsource, data to specify the game data storage part 40 of the replicationsource is stored in the game data storage part 40 of the replicationtarget.

In the case where the disposal of an item is instructed by the inputdevice 22 or the like, the update part 56 increases or decreasesoriginal item data (the number of originals) and replica item data (thenumber of replicas) included in the respective game data. For example,in the case where the disposal of an original item relating to one ofthe game data storage parts 40 is instructed by the input device 22 orthe like, the original item data stored in the game data storage part 40is updated so that the number of original items is decreased by one, andthe replica item data relating to a replica item as a direct or anindirect replica of the original item stored in another game datastorage part 40 is updated so that the number of replica items isdecreased by one. In the case where the disposal of a replica itemrelating to one of the game data storage parts 40 is instructed by theinput device 22 or the like, the original item data stored in one of theother game data storage parts 40 as a direct or an indirect replicationsource of the game data storage part 40 is updated so that the number oforiginal items is decreased by one, and the replica item data relatingto a replica item as a direct or an indirect replica of the originalitem stored in another game data storage part 40 is updated so that thenumber of replica items is decreased by one.

The deletion part 58 deletes game data in accordance with an instructionof the input device 22 or the like. At this time, when the deletion ofthe game data storage part 40 having no replication source is instructedby, for example, the input device 22 or the like, original item data andreplica item data stored in one of the game data storage parts 40 as adirect or indirect replication target of the game data storage part 40are updated so that replica items, identical in number to the number oforiginal items relating to the original item data stored in the gamedata storage part 40 whose deletion is instructed, are changed tooriginal items. At this time, data to specify the replication sourcestored in the game data storage part 40 as still another replicationtarget is changed to data to specify said one of the game data strageparts 40. Then, the game data storage part 40 whose deletion has beeninstructed is deleted. Also, in the case where the deletion of the othergame data storage part 40 is instructed, the game data storage part 40is deleted.

Hereinafter, the data processing of the portable game machine 10 will bedescribed in detail with reference to flowcharts.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing replication processing in the portablegame machine 10. As shown in the drawing, in the replication processing,first, the replication source determination part 50 determines the gamedata storage part 40 of the replication source (S101). Further, thereplication target determination part 52 determines the replicationtarget game data storage part (S102) Next, the replication part 54 readsout the number NO of originals of each item and the number NR ofreplicas thereof stored in the game data storage part 40 of thereplication source (S103). Next, the replication part 54 stores zero asthe number of originals of each item into the game data storage part 40of the replication target (S104). The replication part 54 also storesthe sum of the number NO of the originals and the number NR of thereplicas, read out at S103, as the number of originals of each item intothe game data storage part 40 of the replication target (S105).

Thereafter, the replication part 54 reads out other data, for example,the present situation of various characters, and the situation of a gamespace from the replication source, and writes them into the replicationtarget (S106). Further, the replication part 54 writes an identificationnumber of the game data storage part 40 of the replication targetdetermined at S102 into the replication target column 44 of the gamedata storage part 40 of the replication source (S107), and writes anidentification number of the game data storage part 40 of thereplication source determined at S101 into the replication source column42 of the game data storage part 40 of the replication target (S108).

By doing the above, the original item included in the game data of thereplication source can be included as the replica item in the game dataof the replication target. Besides, the replica item included in thegame data of the replication source can also be included as the replicaitem in the game data of the replication target. At this time, since thereplication target and the replication source can be correlated witheach other through the replication source column 42 and the replicationtarget column 44, when a certain item is disposed of, a relevant itemcan also be disposed of. In this way, it is possible to prevent thenumber of items from increasing due to the replication of the game data.

Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing item disposal processing in theportable game machine 10. In the case where a game based on game datastored in a certain game data storage part 40 is played, when a playerspecifies an item by using the input device 22 and instructs disposalsuch as assignment, exchange, or discard, the item disposal processingshown in the drawing is executed. As shown in the drawing, in thisprocessing, first, reference is made to the game data under play atpresent, and it is checked whether or not the number of originals of thespecified item is one or more (S201). When it is less than one, that is,zero, it is judged that the replication source exists, and among thegame data storage parts 40 as the direct or indirect replication sourcesof the game data storage part 40, one in which the number of originalsof the specified item is one or more is searched for (S202). The gamedata storage part 40 of the direct or indirect replication source can befound by referring to the replication source column 42 of each of thegame data storage parts 40. On the other hand, in the case where thenumber of originals of the specified item is one or more, the processingof S202 is skipped. Thereafter, the number of originals included in thegame data under play at present or the game data found at S202 isdecreased by one (S203). Further, the number of replicas of the item isdecreased by one with respect to all of the direct or indirectreplication targets of the game data in which the number of originals ofthe specified item is decreased by one at S203 (S204). Here, the directreplication target means game data directly replicated by thereplication processing of FIG. 5. Besides, the indirect replicationtarget means the case where game data is stored into the game datastorage part 40 of the replication target after replication into thegame data storage part 40 is performed at least once, for example,replication is performed once to a certain game data storage part 40,and replication is performed after that to another game data storagepart 40.

According to the above processing, when the disposal of a certain itemis instructed, the original of the item is disposed of, and all replicasresulting from the original are disposed of, so that it is possible toprevent the item from increasing due to the replication of the gamedata.

Next, FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing game data deletionprocessing. The processing shown in the drawings is executed in the casewhere a player specifies a certain game data storage part 40 by theinput device 22 and instructs deletion thereof. In this processing,first, the game data storage part 40 as a deletion object is determinedin accordance with the operation of the player (S301). Next, it isjudged whether or not zero is stored in the replication source column 42included in the game data storage part 40 (S302). In the case where zerois not stored, it is judged that the game data created by replicatingone of the game data storage parts 40 is specified as the deletionobject, and the game data storage part 40 is searched for as thereplication source, and it is judged whether or not the identificationnumber of the game data storage part 40 of the deletion object is storedin the replication target column 44 (S303). When the identificationnumber of the game data storage part 40 of the deletion object isstored, other game data storage part 40 in which the identificationnumber of the game data storage part 40 of the replication source isstored in the replication source column 42, are searched for (S304).Then, when the game data storage part 40 as stated above exists,identification number of one of those is stored in the replicationtarget column 44 of the game data storage part 40 as the replicationsource (S305). On the other hand, when the game data storage part 40 asstated above does not exist, zero is stored into the replication targetcolumn 44 of the game data storage part 40 as the replication source(S309). Thereafter, it is judged whether or not the replication targetof the game data storage part 40 of the deletion object exists (S306).This judgment can be performed by referring to, for example, thereplication target column 44 of the game data storage part 40 of thedeletion object. Then, when the replication target exists, theidentification number of the game data storage part 40 as thereplication source of the game data storage part 40 of the deletionobject is stored into the replication source column 42 of the game datastorage part 40 of the replication target (S307). Further, the number ofreplicas of each item included in the game data storage part 40 of thereplication target is decreased by the number of originals of each itemincluded in the game data storage part 40 of the deletion object (S308).On the other hand, when the replication target does not exist, theprocessing of S307 and S308 is skipped. Thereafter, the game data storedin the game data storage part 40 of the deletion object is erased(S310).

On the other hand, at S302, when zero is stored in the replicationsource column 42, it is judged that the deletion of original game data,not replication of any game data, is instructed, and it is judgedwhether or not the replication target exists (S311). The replicationtarget is the game data storage part 40 in which the identificationnumber of the game data storage part 40 as the deletion object is storedin the replication source column 42. Then, when the replication targetdoes not exist (S311), the game data stored in the game data storagepart 40 of the deletion object is erased (S310). On the other hand, whenthe replication target exists (S311), zero is stored into thereplication source column 42 included in one of the game data storageparts 40 of the replication target (S312), the number of replicas ofeach item included in the game data storage part 40 is added to thenumber of originals, and the number of replicas is made zero (S313).Also, the identification number of the game data storage part 40 inwhich zero is stored in the replication source column 42 at S312 isstored into the replication source column 42 included in the game datastorage part 40 of another replication target (S314). Thereafter, thegame data stored in the game data storage part 40 of the deletion objectis erased (S310).

By doing the above, when the game data having no replication source isdeleted, the replica item relating to one of the replication targets canbe promoted to the original item. At this time, with respect to theother replication target, the replication source column 42 is modifiedso that promoted replica item is made the replication source.

According to the portable game machine 10 as described above, in a gamebased on certain game data, and in the case where a certain item isdisposed of, the relevant item included in the game data of thereplication target and the replication source of the game data can alsobe disposed of. By doing this, while the replication of the game data iscreated, and it is made possible to use the item on the basis ofdifferent game data, it is possible to prevent the item from increasingas a result of the replication.

Incidentally, the invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in the above description, although the link data tocorrelate the replication source with the replication target is storedin the replication source column 42 and the replication target column 44included in each of the game data storage parts 40, it may be separatelystored in the storage part 41. Also, although the above description hasbeen given for the example in which the invention is applied to the casewhere the game data is stored in the portable game machine 10, theinvention can also be similarly applied to a case where game data isstored in a stationary home-use game machine, or a case where game dataof respective users are stored in a game server connected to acommunication network such as the Internet.

Further, in the above description, although the program is supplied fromthe ROM cartridge 12 as an information storage medium to the portablegame machine 10, the program may be supplied through the communicationnetwork. FIG. 9 is a view showing the overall configuration of a programdelivery system using the communication network. As shown in thedrawing, this program delivery system 100 includes a game database 102,a server 104, a communication network 106, a personal computer 108, ahome-use game machine 110, and a PDA (portable digital assistant) 112. Aprogram delivery apparatus 114 is constituted by the game database 102and the server 104 among these. The communication network 106 iscomprising of, for example, the Internet or a cable television network.In this system, a program similar to the storage contents of the ROMcartridge 12 is stored in the game database 102. Then, a demander makesa game delivery request by using the personal computer 108, the home-usegame machine 110, the PDA 112 or the like, and it is delivered to thesever 104 through the communication network 106. Then, the server 104reads out the program from the game database 102 in response to the gamedelivery request and transmits it to the game delivery request sourcesuch as the personal computer 108, the home-use game machine 110 or thePDA 112. Here, although the game delivery is performed in response tothe game delivery request, it may be transmitted from the server 104without the need for a request. Also, it is not always necessary todeliver all programs necessary for realizing a game at the same time(batch delivery), and a necessary portion may be delivered in accordancewith the stage of a game (split delivery). As stated above, when thegame delivery is performed through the communication network 106, thedemander can easily obtain the program.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the invention, for example, when it is applied to a gamemachine or the like, in the case where a certain item is disposed of, arelevant item, that is, a replication target or a replication source,can also be disposed of. In this way, while replication of game data iscreated and an item can be used on the basis of different game data, itis possible to prevent the item from increasing due to replication.

1. A game apparatus comprising: plural game data storage means;replication source determination means for determining replicationsource game data storage means among the plural game data storage means;replication target determination means for determining replicationtarget game data storage means among the plural game data storage means;and replication means for storing game data into the replication targetgame data storage means on the basis of game data stored in thereplication source game data storage means, the game apparatus beingcharacterized in that there is included link data storage means forstoring link data to correlate two game data storage means with eachother, each of the plural game data storage means stores original itemdata relating to an original item and replica item data relating to areplica item, and the replication means stores the game data into thereplication target game data storage means on the basis of the game datastored in the replication source game data storage means so that a sumof the number of original items relating to the original item datastored in the replication source game data storage means and the numberof replica items relating to the replica item data stored in thereplication source game data storage means becomes the number of replicaitems relating to the replica item data stored in the replication targetgame data storage means, and stores the link data to correlate thereplication target game data storage means with the replication sourcegame data storage means into the link data storage means.
 2. A gameapparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprisingmeans for, in a case where disposal of an original item relating to theoriginal item data stored in one of the plural game data storage meansis instructed, updating the original item data stored in the game datastorage means whose disposal is instructed so that the number oforiginal items is decreased, and updating the replica item data storedin another game data storage means relating to a replica item as adirect or indirect replica of the original item so that the number ofreplica items is decreased.
 3. A game apparatus according to claim 1,characterized by further comprising means for, in a case where disposalof a replica item relating to the replica item data stored in one of theplural game data storage means is instructed, updating the original itemdata stored in one of other game data storage means as a direct orindirect replication source of the game data storage means whosedisposal is instructed so that the original item is decreased, andupdating the replica item data stored in another game data storage meansrelating to a replica item as a direct or indirect replica of thedecreased original item so that the replica item is decreased.
 4. A gameapparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprisingmeans for, in a case where deletion of game data storage means having noreplication source is instructed, updating the original item data andthe replica item data stored in one of the game data storage means asdirect or indirect replication targets of the game data storage meanswhose deletion is instructed so that replica items, equal in number tothe number of original items relating to the original item data storedin the game data storage means whose is instructed are changed tooriginal items, changing link data, which is stored in the link datastorage means and correlates the game data storage means whose deletionis instructed with the game data storage means as the replication targetof the game data storage means, to link data to correlate the game datastorage means as the replication target of the game data storage meanswhose deletion is instructed with said one of the game data storagemeans, and deleting the game data storage means whose deletion isinstructed.
 5. A game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pluralgame data storage means is comprising of one or plural memories, and thelink data storage means is comprising of part of each of the plural gamedata storage means.
 6. A game apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe link data storage means and the plural game data storage means arecomprising of one or plural memories, and a storage area relating to thelink data storage means and a storage area relating to the plural gamedata storage means are separately provided in the one or pluralmemories.
 7. A program to cause a computer to function as: plural gamedata storage means; replication source determination means fordetermining replication source game data storage means among the pluralgame data storage means; replication target determination means fordetermining replication target game data storage means among the pluralgame data storage means; replication means for storing game data intothe replication target game data storage means on the basis of game datastored in the replication source game data storage means; and link datastorage means for storing link data to correlate two game data storagemeans with each other, the program being characterized in that each ofthe plural game data storage means stores original item data relating toan original item and replica item data relating to a replica item, andthe replication means stores the game data into the replication targetgame data storage means on the basis of the game data stored in thereplication source game data storage means so that a sum of the numberof original items relating to the original item data stored in thereplication source game data storage means and the number of replicaitems relating to the replica item data stored in the replication sourcegame data storage means becomes the number of replica items relating tothe replica item data stored in the replication target game data storagemeans, and stores the link data to correlate the replication target gamedata storage means with the replication source game data storage meansinto the link data storage means.
 8. A control method of a gameapparatus, comprising: a replication source determination step ofdetermining replication source game data storage means among plural gamedata storage means; a replication target determination step ofdetermining replication target game data storage means among the pluralgame data storage means; and a replication step of storing game datainto the replication target game data storage means on the basis of gamedata stored in the replication source game data storage means, thecontrol method of the game apparatus being characterized in that at thereplication step, the game data is stored into the replication targetgame data storage means on the basis of the game data stored in thereplication source game data storage means so that a sum of the numberof original items relating to the original item data stored in thereplication source game data storage means and the number of replicaitems relating to the replica item data stored in the replication sourcegame data storage means becomes the number of replica items relating tothe replica item data stored in the replication target game data storagemeans, and link data to correlate the replication target game datastorage means with the replication source game data storage means isstored into the link data storage means.
 9. A program delivery apparatuscomprising an information storage medium storing a game program and aserver, characterized in that: a program is stored as at least part ofthe game program in the information storage medium, the program causinga computer to function as: plural game data storage means; replicationsource determination means for determining replication source game datastorage means among the plural game data storage means; replicationtarget determination means for determining replication target game datastorage means among the plural game data storage means; replicationmeans for storing game data into the replication target game datastorage means on the basis of game data stored in the replication sourcegame data storage means; and link data storage means for storing linkdata to correlate two game data storage means with each other, and theprogram being characterized in that each of the plural game data storagemeans stores original item data relating to an original item and replicaitem data relating to a replica item, and the replication means storesthe game data into the replication target game data storage means on thebasis of the game data stored in the replication source game datastorage means so that a sum of the number of original items relating tothe original item data stored in the replication source game datastorage means and the number of replica items relating to the replicaitem data stored in the replication source game data storage meansbecomes the number of replica items relating to the replica item datastored in the replication target game data storage means, and stores thelink data to correlate the replication target game data storage meanswith the replication source game data storage means into the link datastorage means, and the server reads out the game program from theinformation storage medium in response to a game delivery request anddelivers the game program through a communication network.
 10. Aninformation storage medium storing a program recited in claim 7.